Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Hradecky has revealed the secret behind the success of coach Xabi Alonso at the club. Liverpool is eyeing Xabi Alonso as a replacement for Jurgen Klopp next season, but The Kop faces a battle with Bayern Munich. Leverkusen’s goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky asserts that 42-year-old Xabi Alonso is leading Bayer Leverkusen towards their first Bundesliga title, a success that has attracted interest from both Liverpool and Bayern Munich, both of whom are seeking new managers this summer.
Manager Jurgen Klopp has announced his departure from Liverpool at the end of this season after nearly nine years with the club. Meanwhile, coach Thomas Tuchel is also leaving Bayern Munich at the end of this season. Former Spanish midfielder Alonso, who played for Liverpool, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid, has a coaching contract with Bayer Leverkusen until 2026.
Now, the 34-year-old goalkeeper, who has been at Bayer Leverkusen since 2018, shares the secrets to his coach’s success: “Xabi Alonso brings standards, a winning mentality, training on how you play, and how you execute every action in each intense session.
That’s where the real secret lies. We are quite clear about what we’re doing. In terms of tactics, Xabi Alonso is fantastic, from how we think about set pieces, pressing in matches, to defense. Xabi Alonso brings football intelligence with him.
You don’t meet Xabi Alonso every day, but the atmosphere he brings to Bayer Leverkusen, we didn’t have it before. I think it comes from Xabi Alonso’s experience in football. He lived through the game as a player.
At Real Madrid, Liverpool, it’s the standard that we strive for every day. Xabi Alonso brings the spirit of those top clubs. It was here when Xabi Alonso arrived at the club. This is the best Bayer Leverkusen team I’ve ever experienced. It’s tough to play against us.”
When asked whether Alonso should stay at Bayer Leverkusen amid interest from Bayern Munich and Liverpool, Finland’s number one goalkeeper and team captain Hradecky adds: “That’s our desire and dream. Of course, no one would be upset or argue if Xabi Alonso wins the Bundesliga and decides to move on to another path.
There will be another vacant position for a coach. Every day we see that Xabi Alonso enjoys being at Bayer Leverkusen. Xabi Alonso likes Dusseldorf, where he lives. From another perspective: How can you do better this season? There are many things to contemplate, but Xabi Alonso is gentleman enough to make the right decision, and only he knows what’s best for him.”
Bayer Leverkusen under Xabi Alonso currently leads the Bundesliga standings with an unbeaten record after 26 matches, winning 22 and drawing 4, ten points ahead of Harry Kane’s Bayern Munich. The Bundesliga title is within Bayer Leverkusen’s grasp.
Hradecky further states: “We have to keep believing. The closer we get and the fewer fixtures we have, the closer we get to our dream. My dream didn’t come true with the Finnish national team, but I hope it will with Bayer Leverkusen. Whether the opponent has Harry Kane or not, it doesn’t matter in our preparation or our mental approach to the game.
I hope this isn’t just a one-time opportunity. We’ve built something valuable. I hope it will come. Football can be cruel sometimes; you don’t want Bayern Munich to ‘catch up,’ but I hope the foundation we’ve laid is enough. We’re getting closer to the Bundesliga title. That’s the task.”
Hradecky recently suffered a 1-4 defeat with the Finnish national team against Wales in Cardiff in the Euro 2024 playoff. Meanwhile, Bayer Leverkusen, under Xabi Alonso, will face David Moyes’ West Ham in the Europa League quarter-finals next month.
Hradecky notes: “West Ham has beaten a German team twice in the group stage, and now we’re facing them in the Europa League quarter-finals. We’ve met them in a preseason friendly, but that doesn’t matter now. A Premier League team in the Top 10 is always dangerous.
In fact, this will be my club’s first match in England, but I’m looking forward to experiencing the atmosphere at West Ham’s Olympic Stadium. I’m eagerly awaiting the challenge ahead.”